Oatmeal Craisin Cookies

I've added a handful of chopped dried cranberries in with the raisins for another layer of flavour.

The dough needs a couple of hours in the fridge before placing on the pan so you can mix them ahead of time and have fresh cookies ready when the children get home from school.

3/4 cup butter or margarine

3/4 cup shortening

2 1/2 cups sugar

2 eggs

3/4 cup golden cane syrup ( I used Roger's)

1 1/2 cups oatmeal

4 teaspoons baking soda **

4 cups flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon cloves

1 cup chopped raisins

1 cups chopped dried cranberries

**I've had questions about the amount of baking soda in this recipe. I wondered about it myself the first time I made it but the cookies turned out fine. By all means try reducing the amount if it doesn't seem right to you. Or you can reduce or eliminate the salt. Let us know if you come up with a better ratio of baking soda. We're always open to learning from our readers.

Mix butter, shortening and sugar together in a large bowl.

Add eggs one at a time, beating after each addition.

Add golden syrup and mix well.

Mix in oatmeal, baking soda, spices and salt.

Add flour, one cup at a time and mix well.

Add raisins and dried cranberries and mix again.

Cover cookie dough and refrigerate for several hours.

Scoop out cookies on to pan and roll each into a 1 inch ball.

Bake at 375 degrees for 10 - 12 minutes or until cookies are evenly browned and beginning to set.

Let cool on pan for 5 minutes and remove to racks or brown paper to cool.

When I commented to the 3 men in our office about the baking soda question,they immediately suggested I bake another batch and they would gladly taste test the results. I'm laughing because they gobbled down the first batch without complaint!

These cookies are delicious,although mine "ran" a bit and were quite flat. Next time I might put in a little bit more oatmeal. The guys in my house didn't mind that they didn't look perfect and quickly wolfed a number of them down.

I used all the ingredients exactly as stated in the recipe. NEVER have I made cookies using SO much butter and shortening, and both together. However I used what it said. Mixed it up and put it into the fridge for 2 hours. Using a small ice cream scoop to put onto the cookie sheets, just as shown. I did question the large amount of baking soda & greatly questioned the HUGE amount of sugar used but went ahead as per recipe. The end result was horrible and all the cookie batter ended in my garbage. The cookies NEVER baked, they ran into each other like a large pie, and remained wet and raw and greasy. I checked and rechecked all the ingredients, making sure I had not missed something. My oven was set at the right temperature as well so I had not done anything wrong. I felt bad to think all my time and energy was wasted, not saying anything about all the ingredients gone to waste. I have done a lot of baking all my life and consider myself very good at it. I was very unhappy with what happened and wanted to bring it to your attention.

I'm sorry your cookies didn't turn out. I have been making these for many years and have not had trouble with them.There are many variables when baking so I'm not sure what to suggest went wrong.I know the amounts of sugar and shortening/butter seem high but it is a large recipe and they are balanced out by the 5 1/2 cups flour/oatmeal the recipe calls for. Once again I am sorry the cookies did not turn out for you.